The unique custom of fishing with poles in Tich Giang

In late autumn and early winter, when the water level of the Tich River flowing through the Tich Giang area (Phuc Tho commune) drops, the river suddenly becomes unusually busy. Every afternoon, people of Tuong Phieu village invite each other to go down to the river to "set sail" to catch fish.

The sound of bamboo poles hitting the water surface and the bustling calls to each other create a picture of rustic life, imbued with the soul of the countryside by the river.

People in Tich Giang prepare their "tools" to go fish-crushing. Photo: Phuc Tho

According to legend, the custom of fishing with poles in Tich Giang has existed since ancient times, associated with the ancient Tuong Phieu communal house - the place to worship Duc Thanh Tan Vien, the head of the "Four Immortals" in Vietnamese folk beliefs. People say that Duc Thanh Tan himself taught people how to weave nets, make poles, and make cranes to catch fish on the Tich River.

To commemorate the merits of the Saint, the villagers built a communal house to worship and preserve this traditional craft as a distinct cultural feature. On each occasion of the communal house festival, the villagers choose the biggest fish of the fishing season to offer to Saint Tan, to show their gratitude.

People of Tich Giang fishing on the river. Photo: Phuc Tho

Mr. Nguyen Tien Cuong, a resident of Tuong Phieu village, shared: “Around August to October of the lunar calendar, when there are no more heavy rains, less water flows from Ba Vi mountain, the river is shallow, fish gather in deep sections… that is the ideal time to go fishing”. The fishing tools of the Tich Gang people are very simple: a conical bamboo frame, four sides covered with nets, the top connected to a bamboo pole longer than the water surface.

When going down to the river, the men stand in a row, holding bamboo poles and hitting the water hard. Any fish that gets caught in the frame will struggle to escape and with experience, the person hitting the pole will immediately recognize it, and either lift the pole to remove the fish from the net or dive down to catch it.

After a fishing session, almost everyone gets a string of fish to take home. Photo: Phuc Tho

These days, on weekends, people in Tich Giang meet up to go fishing on the river. Some days, the group is as large as 60-80 people, "arranged in battle formation". After a fishing session, almost everyone gets a string of fish to take home. Some people catch dozens of kilograms in one session. "The fish in Tich River are mainly carp, because this species lives close to the bottom and is easily caught in the net. The fish are wild, so the meat is firm and very fragrant. We people only take it home to eat, few people sell it," Mr. Cuong added.

The result of an afternoon of fishing by a local. Photo: Minh Phu

Through many changes, the custom of fishing with poles is still preserved by the people of Tich Giang as a unique cultural feature. Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Phuc Tho Commune, Nguyen Van Cong, said that Tuong Phieu means "good wind". This is an ancient village famous for its communal house which is ranked as a National Monument with special architecture, and the Tuong Phieu communal house festival is also recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. Not only preserving cultural heritage, Tuong Phieu people are also famous for growing flowers and ornamental plants associated with eco -tourism . Recently, the Hanoi Department of Tourism recognized "Tuong Phieu Flower Color" as one of the city's typical new tourism products in 2025.

Not only attracting "men", many women also go to the river to cheer on their husbands and children while rowing and bring the fruits of their labor home. Photo: Phuc Tho Commune

According to the leaders of Phuc Tho commune, the custom of fishing on the Tich River is a unique cultural space, reflecting the strong bond between people and nature. It is these folk activities that have created a unique identity for the land along the Tich River. “We want to preserve and promote the value of the custom of fishing on the Tich River as part of rural experiential tourism. Thereby, it will not only help people increase their income, but also arouse pride and connect the community, especially the young generation, with their homeland,” said Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Phuc Tho commune, Nguyen Van Cong.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/dac-sac-tuc-dap-sao-bat-ca-o-tich-giang-721930.html